Canister Filter media for a planted tank?

[dapellegrini]

I setup an xP3 for my 72g a couple of weeks back and am thinking of doing a first cleaning. I think I heard somewhere that using carbon in a planted tank w/ CO2 injection is not the way to go. Well as I am reading the packaging, my current canister has a couple of different pads (white and black foam), and Bio-Chem Zorb bag. The Zorb contains resins and active carbon.

So should I pull the zorb out? What would be my ideal filter media? Running a 72g planted tank, pressurized CO2, 216w of T5 light and a Rena XP3.

[Jchillin]

Here is a good recipe for planted filtration:

Remove the zorb/carbon components, they won't be necessary unless needed.
Stack your canister with bio-balls and filter floss (secondary mechanical after the pads).

Result? Crystal clear, biologically enriched water. Also, depending on the amount of waste, you won't need to clean weekly...more like monthly or more.

[dapellegrini]

Is there a brand or type of bio balls that I should look at? I have never bought anything like that before, but have a vague idea that there are a lot of different types.

[Jchillin]

Indeed there are...try some of these:

Ceramic Rings

Ceramic balls

HTH

[JustOneMore20]

There are also Bio-balls, that are plastic balls and work well in cannisters. Rena makes their own Bio-Stars, but IMO any thing of the sort will work. I recently bought these bio-balls for my XP3. It was more than enough to put in the center basket (top and bottom). You can mix the two and get the balls and the ceramic rings. IMO they both work the same. Its just a matter of preference I guess.

Here is a link to Rena's brand of Bio-stars. I would save a few dollars though and just get Big Als brand (the first link).

Biomax is more like ceramic rings than balls. Its just a smaller version I think. Probably works just as well as the rings and the plastic balls.

Edited to fix link - An t-iasg

[Lonewolfblue]

In my XP3 I use the sponges, both the coarse and the medium. I also use Ceramic Cylinders and Lava Granules, both made by Hydor. I also use Filter floss and then topped off with the fine pad that comes with the XP3. No need for carbon in the tank other than to remove meds if you had to medicate.

[rkilling1]

if you have a heavy planted tank with a light to medium bio load you don't even need biological media in your filter. all you really need is mechanical filter media.

[gheitman]

I have an xP1 (less space for media than the xP3) with a planted tank and don't use the Bio-Chem Zorb. I use Seachem's Matrix biological media which is extremely porous and provides a very large surface area for growth of aerobic bacteria. You can find it at http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...biomedia1liter although it is also available in larger quantities.

I recommend cleaning the filter only once a month although that depends on both your fish and plant loads.

[rkilling1]

here is a good acticle for you guys to read:

http://www.aquabotanic.com/plants_an...filtration.htm

let me know what you think.

[maxwell1295]

XP2: Pot scrubbers and floss

Fluval 304s: Rings, scrubbers and floss

Eheim Classics: Ehiem media (rings and 'cocoa puffs') and floss.